Tumbler type clothes-washing machine having continuous liquid flow



June 26, 1951 M. HIRSCH TUHBLER TYPE CLOTHES WASHING MACHINE HAVING CONTINUOUS LIQUID FLOW 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 25. 1946 INTOR. 772m: Hirsch.

June 26, 1951 Filed July 25. 1946 M. HIRSCH TUMBLER TYPE CLOTHES WASHING MACHINE HAVING commuous LIQUID FLOW 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 I69 INVENTOR- /64 192 in sch 494 94 ma BY j awmd M W 0 [/92 /aa 05 I64 i.

June 26, 1951 M. HIRSCH 'I'UMBLER TYPE CLOTHES WASHING MACHINE HAVING CONTINUOUS LIQUID FLOW 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed July 25, 1946 INVENTOR. 77m ranch June 26, 1951 M. HIRSCH 2,557,966

TUMBLER TYPE CLOTHES WASHING MACHINE HAVING CONTINUOUS LIQUID FLOW Filed July 25, 1946 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR- 772m: M

BLZWQM Patented .Iune 26, 1951 TUMBLER TYPE CLOTHES-WASHING MA- CHINE HAVING CONTINUOUS LIQUID FLOW Max Hirsch. Chicago, 11!.

Application July 25, 1946, Serial No. 886,078

3 Claims. 1

This invention relates to machines for washing and otherwise treating fabrics and other substances.

The term soil" as used herein is intended to include stains and other foreign matter.

An object of my invention is to provide a machine for eliminating soil from fabrics, such machine. for accomplishing a given quantity of work, being required to be a small fraction of the size and weight, and accordingly will consume a small fraction of the power and. when used for washing fabrics, will require water of considerably lower temperature, compared to the most efiicient machine now in use.

An additional object is to provide one machine by which one operation or cycle, that is, the period of time from the loading thereof with soiled fabrics, to the time of discharge of such fabrics completely soil and germ free and with a moisture content suitable for ironing, so that no further drying is required, will be a very small fraction, on the order of one-tenth, of the time now required for accomplishing the same results on the same quantity of fabrics with the most eflicient machines now in use.

It is another object of my invention to provide a laundry machine whereby elimination of soil from fabrics may be effected with substantially smaller quantities of soaps, detergents, bluing and cleaning fluids than has heretofore been possible.

Another object of my invention is to provide a machine for eliminating soil from fabrics in a small fraction of the time heretobefore consumed.

A further object of my invention is to provide a laundry machine of the centrifugal type, including a clothes-containing drum constructed to continuously admit fresh clothes-treating liquid and continuously and finally discharge spent liquid, and a supply of liquid in stream form for the drum.

Further objects and advantages of my invention will appear as the description proceeds. The invention will be better understood upon reference to the following description and accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. l is a side elevation, partly in section, of an embodiment of a laundry machine in accordance with my invention.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view. with parts broken away. taken as indicated by the line 2-2 in Fig. i.

Fig. 3 is a side view, partly in section and partly in elevation, of the washing drum, taken as in dicated by the line 3-3 in Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken as indicated by the line L4 in Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary isometric view, partly broken away, of the main section of the hub structure and certain of the associated spokes shown in Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged side elevation of the locking lever shown in Fi 4.

Fig. '7 is an enlarged elevation of a link associated with the levers of Fig. 6 in the arrange-- ment shown in Fig. 4.

Fig. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken as indicated by the line 8-4 in Fig. 2.

Fig. 9 is a reduced fragmentary view, partly in section and partly in elevation, taken as indicated by the line 99 in Fig. 8.

Fig. 10 is a reduced fragmentary view, partly in section and partly in elevation, taken as indicated by the line lfl-Ill in Fig. 8.

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary view showing a modified drum construction.

Fig. 12 is a side view, partly in section and partly in elevation, of a dolly for removing and returning the rotary cylinder or drum of the washin machine.

Fig. 13 is a fragmentary rear elevational view of the dolly taken as indicated by the line i3--I3 in Fig. 12.

Fig. 14 is a top plan view of a side of the dolly shown in Figs. 12 and 13.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, there is shown in accordance with my invention a housing or casing comprising essentially a stationary part or frame 2| open at the front as indicated at 22 and having a base 23, adapted to be bolted or otherwise suitably secured to a floor or foundation 2!. and two movable parts 25 and 26 which function as doors. For some purposes, as will appear, the door 26 may be omitted. The frame II has a hood 2B which may be in the form of a part-cylinder, and side walls 30 and 32 to which are welded at 34, or otherwise secured, horizontal co-axial journals 36 in which are disposed bearings 38 in which run stub shafts l0. Keyed as at 42 to one of the stub shafts Ill is a pulley 44 connected by one or more belts 48 to a drive pulley 48 mounted on the shaft 5|) of a motor 52. The motor 52 may be mounted in any suitable fashion and in any suitable position. For example, it may be mounted by mean of a pivot 54 on a bracket 58 welded as at 58 to the rear 59 of the frame II, adjustment of slack in the belts 46 being taken up as at 60. A chain and sprocket or other alternative drive may be employed.

My laundry machine contemplates the use of a two-section clothes-carrying drum 64 (Figs. 1.

2 and 3), comprising a container section 85 and a door section 88 and adapted to be rotated about a horizontal axis by the motor 52. Each side 81 of the drum 84 has a hub 88 comprising an an nular plate 18 and a sleeve 12 integral or welded or otherwise suitably connected together, and means including a shaft-receiving member 14. having an annular locating flange 18 received in said sleeve and an attaching radial flange 11 secured as at 18 to said plate. Each hub member 14 has a boss 88 (Figs. 2, 8, 9 and 10) having a right-angular V-notch 82 for receiving and engaging two sides 84 of the squared end 88 of the adjacent driving stub shaft 48. The boss 88 has at one side an ear 88 (Figs. 8 and 9) spaced from the attaching flange 11 and from the free end face 88 of the boss. A releasable block 84. having a right-angular V-notch 88 for receiving and engaging the remaining two sides 88 of the squared end 88 of the driving stub shaft 48, is forked to provide spaced arms I88 between which the car 88 is disposed, said block being pivoted to the boss 88 by a pin I82 passing through alined holes in said arms and ear.

Also disposed between and pivoted as at II8 to the fork arms I88 is a lever I I2 whose purpose will appear, said lever having a lug II4 engaged with the outer end I I8 of a pin I I8 longitudinally slidable in a bore I28 in the block 84, a spring I22 in said bore constantly biasing said pin toward said lug so as to urge said lug to rotate about the pivot I I8 in a direction which in Fig. 8 is clockwise.

The boss 88 has at the side thereof opposite the car 88 a second ear I28 likewise spaced from the attaching flange 11 of the hub member 14 and from the free end face 88 of the boss. At the opposite sides of and pivoted as at I28 to the ear I28 are links I38 which are also pivoted as at I32 to a latch lever I34. The lever I34 has a nose I38 with a rounded end I38 engageable in a rounded socket I48 in a lug I42 at the side of the block 84 opposite the fork arms I88, said lug projecting between the links I38. The lever I34 opposite the nose I38 has an arm I44 which is preferably hollowed out as at I48 to afford a handle I48 and which, at its free end, has a latch projection I 48 adapted to be retained by a shoulder I58 on the arm I52 of the lever II2, whereby the lever II2 constitutes a keeper for the latch lever I34.

When the parts are disposed as shown in Figs. 2, 8. 9 and 10, the squared end 88 of each stub shaft 48 is securely clamped between the boss 88 and the block 84, so that the drum 84 is mounted on the stub shafts 48 and is rotated by the motor 52 through the stub shaft driven thereby.

In accordance with my invention, the drum 84 is adapted to be released from the stub shafts 48, so that the drum may be lowered for removal through the front opening 22 in the frame 2I. This is accomplished by pressing the arm I52 of the lever 2 to the left (Fig. 8) against the resistance of the spring I22 until the shoulder I58 of the arm I52 is clear of the projection I48 on the lever I44, then grasping the handle I48 and raising it. As the handle I48 is raised, the nose I88 of the latch lever I34 exerts a prying force upon the depressed wall I48 of the lug I42 as a fulcrum, causing the pivot pin I32, and, with it, the links I38 to swing about the lower pivot I28. The nose I38 at the beginning of this operation is arranged so that it occupies a substantially dead center position relative to the pivots I28 and I32, and. at the conclusion of the swinging movement of the handle I44. is sufliciently beyond the dead center position to enable the lever I34. pivot I32 and links I38 to swing completely to the right (Fig. 8), so as to provide full clearance for upward swinging of the lug I42 about the pivot I82. Thereupon, each lug I42 is pulled up so as to swing the block 84, from which it projects, at least substantially 90 so as to pass downward with the drum 84 without obstruction from the associated squared shaft end 88.

Provision is made to support the drum 84 so that it will not fall when the release above described is effected. To this end, I provide a dolly I82 having front wheels I84, rear casters I88, side plates I88 connected as by tie rods I88, a reinforcing and caster-supporting plate I18 integral with or suitably connected to the side plates. drum-supporting levers I12 pivoted as at I14 to the side plates, and a lever-controlling handle I18 mounted to rotate with a pivot member I18 journaled ln bearings I18 carried by the side plates I88. ll'or controlling the levers I12, cams I88 are secured to the pivot I18 for rotation therewith. each cam having sliding bearing engagement with a bearing plate I82 secured to an arm I84 of each lever I12. The cams I88 are so arranged that they depress the arms I84 to the utmost when the handle I18 is in its uppermost position, shown in full lines in Figs. 12 and 13, and least when the handle is lowermost as shown by the dash-dot lines in Fig. 12.

When the handle I18 is swung from its uppermost position, each cam I88 permits the heavier arm I88 of each lever I12 to descend. Each arm I88 is forked at its free end I88 to provide fingers I82 in which are journaled spaced rollers I84 which, with the like rollers on the arm I88 of the other lever I12, serve as a cradle for the hub bosses 88 on the drum 84. Accordingly, when it is desired to remove the drum 84 from the frame 2|, the front of the frame is opened by means and in a manner hereinafter described, the handle I18 of the dolly I82 is swung downward to the dash-dot line position (Fig. 12), the dolly is then shoved up a ramp I85 and through the front opening 22 of the frame and onto the frame floor I88 and stopped by the abutment I81 in the frame, whereupon the cradle rollers I84 are properly positioned below the hub bosses 88 at the opposite ends 81 of the drum. The drum is rotated, if necessary, by hand until the bosses 88 are substantially lowermost as shown in Fig. 8.

'I'hereupon the handle I18 is swung upward, the cams I88 acting upon the bearing plates I82 to elevate the lever arms I88 until the cradle rollers I84 are substantially engaged with the bosses 88. The dolly I82 is so designed with reference to the drum 84 and mounting therefor that the cradle rollers I84 are in the aforesaid position when the handle I18 is in its uppermost position, the axis of the cams I88 and the line of engagement of each cam with the bearing plate I82 then being in substantially dead center relation, so that. when the drum 84 is released from the stub shaft 48 as above described, the weight of the drum effectively holds the levers I12 and cams frictionally against accidental relative movement.

Now upon release of the drum 84 from the stub shafts 48, the bosses 88 come to rest on the cradle rollers I84 and the drum is then supported in its entirety by the dolly I82. The handle I18 is then turned to permit the drum 84 to descend until it comes to rest on the tie rods I88, and when that occurs the drum boss 88 shifts substantially to the position shown at I81 and the periphery of the drum to the position at I88. The dolly I82 may then be withdrawn from the frame 2| and. for this purpose, the pivot member I extending between the cams I80 may be used as a handle whereby the dolly may be pulled out of the housing. This shift of the drum enables the drum to clear the upper limit of the front opening 22 in the frame 2i. The drum 64 then is transported by the dolly I52 to an unloading place, is then opened by means and in a manner hereinafter described, without removal from the dolly, so that the fabrics which have been treated may be removed therefrom, and so that fabrics to be treated may be loaded therein, is re-clcsed by means and in a manner hereinafter described, and then replaced by means of the dolly in the position from which it was taken, whereupon the drum is elevated by the cams l80 pursuant to rotation of the handle I10 into position to be mounted on the stub shafts 40 in a manner substantially the reverse of that above described. The drum 04 is then mounted on the stub shafts, the dolly removed, and the shield 25 lowered to close the opening 22 in the frame 2i preparatory to another treating operation. In the process of remounting the drum on the stub shafts 40, the block 94 is first swung into place, and then the links I and lever I34 are swung toward their final positions, the lug I49 on the lever I34, during its final movement, engaging a cam surface 200 on the keeper lever arm I52 and then snapping into position under the keeper shoulder I50.

The drum container section 65 may extend throughout about 270 and the drum cover or door section or sector 66 the remaining 90, althrough suitable different proportions may be used. The container section 65 comprises intermediate T-spokes 202 and angle end spokes 204, all welded or otherwise suitably secured to the annular plate 10 and to angular rim members 203. The free surfaces 208 of the end spokes 204 are adapted to have fiatwise engagement with complemental surfaces 2) on the end angular spokes 2I2 of the sector 66, in which one or more intermediate T-spokes 2 may be provided and connected to a hub member H5 and angular rim members 2 I B.

Each annular plate 10 has an eye 2" in partially overlapping relation to each end spoke 204 associated therewith. Links 2l8 are disposed at the opposite ends of each eye 2, one end 2I9 of each link being pivoted thereto as by a pin 220, pins 222 being employed for securely holding the pivot pin in assembly therewith and with the eye. The other ends 223 of the links 2l8 are connected by means of a pivot pin 224 disposed therein and held as by another pin 222, said pivot pin 224 passing through an opening 226 in a control lever 223 having a handle 229. Welded or otherwise suitably mounted on each end spoke 2|2 of the sector 204 is a lug 230 having a preferably cylindrical recess 232 in which a cylindrical projection or nose 234 on the lever 22B is adapted to engage and slide, the projection 234 being disposed between the pivot pins 220 and 224 when the sector 66 is assembled with the section 65. When the parts are so assembled, the nose 234 in engagement with the wall of the recess 232 is preferably slightly to the left of dead center relation to the pivots pins 220 and 224 as seen in Fig. 4, so that when the parts are arranged as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, the door sector 66 is securely locked to the container section 65. The sector 66 thus 'serves as a door which may be readily removed be readily returned and locked in place as aforesaid to provide a complete drum structure.

For commercial installations it may be desirable to so construct the drum that the door sector B0 is completely removable from the container section 55. as shown in Fig. 3 and above described. For domestic purposes, it may be preferred to hinge the door section 60 to the container section 05, as shown at 244 in Fig. 11.

Furtherin accordance with my invention. a pipe 250 to which water, soaps, detergents, bluing and cleaning liquids, and other treating materials. or any one or more of such materials, may be fed by a pump not shown), is secured as at 252 at the outer surface of each of the sides 30, 32 of the housing frame 2!, each such side having a hole 254 in communication with the pipe. A manifold or plenum 256 in the form of a torus. affording a circular chamber 258, is secured about each journal 30, as at 263. at the inner surface of each side of the housing frame 2i, and has a passage 262 communicating with the hole 254 so as to receive liquid from the associated pipe 250. Spray tubes 264 radiate from and are threaded as at 266 to the plenum 25B and communicate therewith and extend radially substantially as far as the drum 64. Each tube 264 has a longitudinal series of discharge ports 26!! extending toward the adjacent end 61 of the drum 54, so as to discharge liquid shower-fashion outwardly toward the side of the drum. The outer end of each tube 264 is closed in any suitable way. as by a cap 210 threaded thereto.

Each side 61 of the drum is perforated and, to this end, ther is welded or otherwise secured to and between the ribs 200 of consecutive spokes of the drum, including the door sector 66 as well as the container section 65, a series of arcuate bridging fins 282, co-axial with the drum, each fin being flared outwardly toward the other end 51 of the drum in such fashion that there is provided between each consecutive pair of such fins an arcuate passage 284 disposed to receive liquid sprays from correspondingly positioned discharge ports 268 in the adjacent series of spray pipes or tubes 264, so that such jets or sprays, which are produced under pressure, pass through the passages 204 and impinge on the fabrics carried by the drum 64. Only a few of the fins 282 are shown, however, to avoid tedious repetition.

The cylindrical'periphery 290 of the drum 64 is also perforated and. to this end, comprises, in addition to the angular rim members 205 and 208 of the container section and door sector 86, respectively, connecting tie rods 01' bars 293 of T- section and intervening series of fins 234, which. like the bars 293, bridge the rim members. The series of fins 234 between each pair of consecutive bars 293 may all incline alike, or, as shown at 235 and 296, may be arranged in oppositely inclined sets. The latter arrangement is preferred since it is conducive to separation of fabrics from the top of the drum in multiple suds washing. These fins are spaced apart to provide passages 290 through which the liquid and entrained soil or other foreign matter is discharged centrifugally after passing through the fabrics in the drum. The fins 294 are disposed preferably throughout the entire periphery 290 of the drum 64, including the door sector 66 as well as the container section 65, onl a. few of the fins being illustrated, however, to avoid tedious repetition.

The housing door 25 is lmperforate and is in the form substantially of a sector of a cylinder, with a cylindrical periphery 306 and plate-like sides 308 welded or otherwise secured to circular hubs 3H), each hub having side bearing engagemcnt with the inner surface of the adjacent side wall 38 or 32 of the housing frame 2|, and surrounding and having rotary bearing engagement with and supported by the plenum 258. The free upper margins of the door are flanged outwardly as at M2. The housing frame 2|, at the opening 22 thereof, is reinforced externally as by angle iron members 3l8, and internally by additional angle iron members 323, and a gasket 322 is secured to the inner faces of the inwardly projecting flanges 324 of the angle members 320. When the door 25 is closed, as shown in Fig. l, leakage of liquid from the frame 2| past the top and sides of said door is precluded by the gasket 322. The free lower margins of the door 25 are outwardly flanged as at 323 and adapted, when the door is closed, to engage a gasket 330 at the lower margins of the side walls and 32 of the housing frame 21. The door has a lower flange 332 which, together with the flanges 22B, and when the door or shield 25 is fully open, engage the flanges 324 of the angle member 323 to stop the door at its fully open position. The lower flange 332 of the door 25 affords a closure for the bottom of the opening 22 in the housing frame, to prevent passage of liquid therethrough, and has a handle 33B whereby the door may be easily swung to open and closed positions. When the door 25 is in open position, the operator can pass his hands into the housing frame 2| and manipulate the drum-mounting mechanism, shown in detail in Figs. 2 and 8 and above described, to lock the drum 64 to and release it from the stub shafts 4B, and when the door is open, the dolly I62 can be passed into the frame and the drum 34 can be removed. It will be noted that clearance as shown at 333 is afiorded between the flanges 3I2 and the housing hood 2B and side walls 30 and 32.

The door or shield 26 is telescopically arranged relative to and within the door 25, and likewise is imperl'orate and in the form substantially of a sector of a, cylinder, with a cylindrical periphery 340, and plate-like sides 342 welded or otherwise secured to circular hub 3, each such hub having side bearing engagement with the inner face of the associated hub 3H) and surrounding and having rotary bearing engagement with and supported by the plenum 256. The free margins of the door 26 are flanged outwardly as at 346 and 343. An angle member 350 is welded or otherwise secured to the interior faces of the rear wall 53 and side walls 3|) and 32 of the housing frame 2!, and a sponge rubber or other suitable gasket 352 secured to the top of the angle member for engagement by the flange 343 of the door 26. A gasket 354 is attached to the flange 346 and projects laterally therebeyond for wiping engagement with the peripheral wall 336 and side walls 308 of the door 25.

A rope or chain 330 which may extend from overhead pulleys (not shown) engages pulleys 362 and passes along the periphery 340 of the door 23 and through the rear wall 53 of the housing frame 2! and is anchored to the door 23 as at 362, for rotating said door to open position, the gasket 354 of said door being engageable with the gasket 352 on the angle member 350 at the limiting open position of said door.

The doors 25 and 26 are both used when the multiple suds (i. e., conventional) methods of washing and cleaning are used, in which event the door 25 functions as a reservoir, which is emptied when the door 26 is opened. When the method of my invention, described presently, is used, the door 26 may be pulled to fully open position or may be dispensed with entirely. In the latter case there will of course be no rope or chain hole in the rear wall 59 of the housing frame 2|.

In accordance with the soil elimination of other fabric treating method of my invention, I bring the rotation of the drum 63 very rapidly to a very high speedsay about 600 R. P. M. to about 900 R. P. M.-and run it at this speed for several minutes, more or less, the first part of this period with the liquid turned on and the latter part with the liquid shut oil. The period may vary with the quantity of fabrics treated and the kind of treatment given, among other factors. The high speed rotation generates tremendous centrifugal force, which causes the washing. cleaning or other treating liquid through the fabrics with such speed and force as to loosen the soil and carry the same out with the liquid, such liquid being immediately discharged and not re-used. The liquid and soil pass down through a drain hole 360 in the housing 20, leading to a drain (not shown). Thus only soil-free liquid is used. When the liquid is shut off, the continuing centrifugal force causes the moisture in the fabrics to be very rapidly and effectively extracted to the extent suitable for pressing. The drum is then slowed down very rapidly to a speed of Say 15 R. P. M. to 20 R. P. M. for a few minutes, more or less, to loosen or fluff the fabrics. The complete cycle of operations, consisting of loading the drum, washing, cleaning or other treatment, loosening or fiufhng, removal of the drum, discharge of treated fabrics therefrom, and remounting the drum in the housing are performed in a. matter of about one-half hour for a load of about 350 lbs. of fabrics, whereas, with conventional machines and methods, the correspondnig cycle consumes about 2 hours. Moreover, with my machine and method, the complete operations of fabric treatment, moisture extraction and loosening or fiufflng are performed in what is essentially a single operation, which takes but a relatively short time, on the order of about 10 minutes to about 20 minutes to complete. whereas, with conventional machines and methods, these results are obtained only by a plurality of different operations, consuming a relatively very long period of time.

The machine may of course be made in any suitable sizes. For commercial laundry purposes, it may be found suitable to use a drum having an axial length of about 20" and a diameter of about For domestic use a drum having diameters of about 18" to about 24" may be suitable.

In using my machine and method, the amount of machinery, space, power, time, personnel and treating materials necessary are small fractions of those required at present for obtaining corresponding results, a separate wringer or extractor bein used in conventional practice. The high centrifugal force obtained in accordance with my invention, coupled with the continuous use of fresh treating liquid, enables the treatment to be carried out much more expeditiously than has heretofore been thought possible. When the purpose in view is the removal, from fabrics, of soil of the character conventionally requiring soap and Water, this purpose, carried out in accordance with m invention, can be accomplished substantially without the use of soap. or with relatively smaller proportions thereof, since the water alone loosens the soil and the high centrifugal force enables the water to carry off the soil. Likewise, where naphtha and sudsing material together have been heretofore required for grease removal, in accordance with my invention the naphtha alone or with a relatively smaller proportion of sudsing material may be employed to obtain comparable results.

Various modifications coming within the spirit of my invention may suggest themselves to those skilled in the art, and hence I do not wish to be limited to the specific form shown or uses mentioned, except to the extent indicated in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A machine for removing foreign matter from fabrics, comprising a housing having a door, a drum disposed in said housing, means for rotating said drum, said drum having a door adapted to be opened to admit and permit removal of fabrics, said drum having openings in the end and peripheral walls thereof, said openings being sufiiciently small to preclude bulging of the fabrics therethrough, said openings in said end walls being clrcumferentially elongated and closely spaced, and means for supplying and directing continuous sprays of foreign matter-loosening liquid through said elongated openings into said drum and against the fabrics therein, whereby said liquid will be continuously driven by centrifugal force radially through the fabrics and will escape with the loosened foreign matter through said openings in said peripheral wall, said housing having an opening for continuously draining the spent liquid and foreign matter entrained therein.

2. A machine fdr removing foreign matter from fabrics, comprising a housing having a door, a drum disposed in said housing, means for rotating said drum, said drum having a door adapted to be opened to admit and permit removal of fabrics, said drum having openings in the end and peripheral walls thereof, said openings being sufliciently small to preclude bulging of the fabrics therethrough, said openings in said end walls being circumferentially elongated and closely spaced, means for supplying and directing continuous sprays oi foreign matter-loosening liquid through said elongated openings into said drum and against the fabrics therein, said sprays being inclined toward the interior of said peripheral wall, whereby, when said liquid comes in contact with the fabrics, said liquid will be centrifugally driven radially through the fabrics and will escape with the loosened foreign matter through said openings in said peripheral wall, said housing having an opening for drainin the spent liquid and foreign matter entrained therein.

3. In combination with a laundry machine housing having a door and an open bottom, a rotatable drum mounted with its axis horizontal in said housing, said drum having in the end walls thereof substantially continuously circular intake ports coaxial with said drum, each port comprising a circular series of closely adjacent elongated arcuate openings, end wall reinforcing means separating adjacent arcuate openings, means for introducing fabric-treating streams substantially continuously through said ports into contact with fabrics in said drum, the peripheral wall of said drum being perforated for the centrifugal escape of spent liquid, the bottom opening of said housing providin for drainage of the escaping liquid.

MAX HIRSCH.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 327,214 Wilson Sept. 29, 1885 450,675 Montfort Apr. 21, 1891 906,816 Nicolson Dec. 15, 1908 1,271,549 Dudley July 9, 1918 1,631,266 Hashal June '7, 1927 1,775,879 White Sept. 16, 1930 1,827,209 Robbins Oct. 13, 1931 1,949,719 Jackson Mar. 6, 1934 1,968,679 Gerlach July 31, 1934 2,112,225 Balzer Mar. 29, 1938 2,334,320 Evans Nov. 16, 1943 2,334,982 Dyer Mar. 28, 1944 

